A big week: TR South showed the potential it has

Antrez Clagon (left), shown wrestling Jackson Memorial’s Adante Davis on Jan. 6, 2014, is one of several wrestlers who make Toms River South a formidable team(Photo: JODY SOMERS/CORRESPONDENT)Buy Photo

Toms River South was the big winner last week on the Shore Conference wrestling scene as it showed how dangerous it can be when it has its full lineup together.

The Indians might be the most intriguing team in the Shore.

Toms River South got off to a slow start to the dual-meet season. It also did not help its first two dual meets were against Jackson Memorial and Brick Memorial. They put only 10 wrestlers out on the mat in a 45-22 loss to Brick Memorial on Jan. 6 as its wrestlers battled the flu bug.

However, since the Brick Memorial match, Toms River South has gotten its lineup together. It has wrestlers it can count on to win most of time in: Two-time state qualifier Owen McClave (120/126); Unbeaten freshman Cole Corrigan (120/126), the younger brother of former Indians' three-time state placewinner and 2013 state finalist Kevin Corrigan; Senior Antrez Clagon (170), a state qualifer last year and senior Joe Salvato (182), a Region VI fourth-place finisher last year.

The Indians also have sophomore Zach Martin (120/126), who was a distrct runner-up last year; Senior James Kearney (220/heavyweight), who was a district runner-up last year; Senior Quintin DeCarlo (195), who was a district runner-up in 2013 and a solid freshman in Nick Gallicchio (113). Senior Mike Rutter (220/heavyweight) is also capable of winning bouts given the right matchup.

In its 24-23 win at Southern last Wednesday night, the Indians won the type of match Southern usually wins. Toms River South grinded out seven decisions and a major decision. It won two bouts by one point, three by two points, including one by Clagon over Southern's returning region champion, Matt Wilhelm and another by three points. It beat three Southern wrestlers who were in regions last year.

Toms River South's win over Delsea on criteria on Saturday via winning eight bouts after a 33-33 tie was perhaps even more dramatic. It overcame a 21-0 deficit after four bouts and a 33-17 deficit with four bouts remaining.

In those last four bouts, Toms River South's lower weight quartet of Gallicchio, Martin, Corrigan and McClave all won in different ways. Gallichio won in overtime. Martin won by a point over a returning district runner-up, Corrigan majored a returning district champion and McClave pinned a talented freshman in the final bout to win the match.

Toms River South does have some question marks in the middle of its lineup and it has forfeited 106 most of the time. Forfeiting a weight in tough matches is hard to overcome, but the Indians do have enough firepower to have a chance to vercome that.

The Indians, who have an intriguing match at Brick Saturday morning where firepower could meet firepower in the 170-195 area, could be the team none of the top three seeds would enjoy seeing in a Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinal. They also can be a major player the NJSIAA South IV section.

Brick Memorial gave a classic display in its 37-20 win over Brick of why it has been the Shore Conference's premier program for the past 30 years.

The Mustangs won tough bouts at 152 and 160, and in the process, defeated two of Brick's power-packed six wrestlers from 152-220. They also wrestled well in and saved key bonus points in bouts it lost and was the underdog in from 170-220.

The statement I found most interesting from Brick Memorial coach Mike Denver after the match was that tough matches are not always won by the big-names wrestlers. They are sometimes won by wrestlers who are not locks to be a district placewinner. In other words, program kids.

Having watched Brick Memorial, Jackson Memorial and Southern often grind out wins in tough matches over the years, Denver's statement is spot on.

The Long Branch-Raritan match last Wednesday night, won by Long Branch, 30-27, was fun to watch.

Long Branch-Raritan is a great rivalry. It has not gotten the attention the Jackson Memorial-Southern rivarly has, but it is every bit as intense.

Long Branch and Raritan are two solid programs, coached by two excellent wrestling men in Dan George (Long Branch) and Rob Nucci (Raritan). The two teams reflect their coaches in that they are hard-nosed.